Project information
Project manager
Mahitab Ezz El Din
Other project members
Andreas Jahrehorn Önnerfors and Emma Ricknell
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University
Financier
The Crafoord foundation
Timetable
1 January 2026–21 December 2026
Subject
Media and Communication Science, Journalism and Media Production (Department of Media and Journalism, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Fojo Media Institute)
More about the project
Between 2021 and 2023, allegations circulated claiming that Swedish social services systematically removed children from Muslim families under the LVU law. These claims gained widespread international and domestic attention through X and other social media platforms, leading to protests, threats against authorities, and international criticism.
In a previous project stage, the research team conducted an interview study with representatives of social services and journalists who reported on the LVU issue. The interviews reveal that the level of trust is social services has been a problem and that lack of trust in social services constitutes a key challenge and that the social media dynamics, and disinformation played a significant role in amplifying the campaign.
Building on these qualitative findings, the project conducts a nationwide survey to systematically measure public trust in authorities, with a specific focus on social services. The project contributes new knowledge on how trust in welfare institutions is shaped by disinformation, polarized media debates, and transnational information flows.
